Control for record supporting means



1 D J. w. WELKER 2,332,033

\ CONTROL FOR RECORD surronwme MEANS.

Filed Feb. 26, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1. 255 /58 46 //5 J WillardWelker Inventor Hi8 Attorney J. w. WELK'ER 2,3 3

CONTROL FOR RECORD SUPPORTING MEANS Filed Feb. 26, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2J Willard Walker Inventor Iv Hi! Attorngy 1943. .1. w. WELKER I CONTROLFOR RECORDSUPPQRTING mums Ifiled F6b.'26, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 InventorJ Willard Welker Oct 1 J. w. WELKER 2,332,033 Y CONTROL FOR RECORDSUPPORTING MEANS Filed Feb. 26, 1941 fisheets-sheet 4' FIG. 9 @Z Y JWillard Walker Inventor Hi: Attorney 1 w. WELKER 2,332,033

CONTROL: FOR RECORD SUPPQRTIRG MEANS Filed Feb. 26, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet5 2 FIG.12

J WiIIard W cIkcI Inventor By %M@ Hi8 Attorney Patented Oct. 19, 1943UNITED TATES PATENTYO'FVFICE" 2,332,033 1, CONTROL FOR RECORD SUPPORTINGMEANS J Willard Welker, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to The National CashRegister Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Maryland ApplicationFebruary 28, 1911, Serial No. 380,706

l60laims. (Cl. 197-127) This invention pertains to record materialsupporting means of the front-feed" type in which the supporting meansnormally is in closed-throat position, where it retains the recordmaterial in printing position, but is shiftable to an openthr'oatposition; where certain elements of the supporting means are moved torelease the record material and form an open throat or guiding passageto permit the ready. insertion and removal of said record material fromthe front of the machine. In particular, the invention is concerned withthe provision of novel control means and electromagnetic actuating meansfor tions on the control of the throat-opening operations are eliminatedin applicants novel arrangement, in which a source of radiant energy anda detector of such energy are so located in front of the record materialsupporting means that a beam of radiant energy extends across themachine where the hand of the operator, in moving toward the recordmaterial to remove said material,.will interrupt the beam, and a circuitcontrolled by the detector and including the electromagnetic actuatorwill be completed and cause the actuating means to move the recordmaterial supporting means to open-throat position quietly and quickly.In the instant embodiment of the invention, the source of radiant energyis a light source, the detector is a photoelectric cell, and theactuating means comprises an electromagnet in a circuit controlled bysaid cell.

The novel control means and actuating means are particularly useful whenused in connection.

with a record material supporting means supported by a travelingcarriage, because their operwhich is not possible when the carriagemovement or position is used to control the shifting means. After thedesired number of printing'operations on the record material, theoperator merely reaches for the record material to remove it from themachine, and the actuating magnet is energized to shift the supportingmeans to openthroat condition, regardless of the position of thetraveling carriage.

Accordingly, it is cle'fir'that, when the novel control means andactuating means are used, the

operator does not have to make any adjustments of tappets or controlelements or operate any keys or manipulative devices; all that isnecessary is l that the operator perform -the natural operation ofreaching for the record material, and the electromagnet is operated toshift the supporting means to open-throat position to release thematerial so that it may be removed from the machine. The improvedcontrol means and actuating means, therefore, simplify the operation ofthe machine by the operator, inasmuch as they require no particulareffort on the 'part of the operator and no special operations of partsor sequence of operations to be remembered by the operator.

Control means are provided to prevent repeated operations of'theactuating electromagnet when the record material supporting means is inopen throat position and thebeam of light is interrupted, as would bethe case when a new sheet of record material was being insertedfollowing the shifting of the supporting means to permit ation is in nomanner dependent upon any carmeans to be shifted to open-throatposition,

the removal of another previously-inserted sheet.

Additional control means are provided to delay the operation of theelectromagnetic actuating means if the beam of light is interruptedduring an accounting machine operation before printing has taken place.This will prevent the record material from being shifted out of printingposition before an impression can be made thereon.

Retaining means are provided to cause a circuit for the actuatingelectromagnet, which circuit is closed when the beam of light is blockedfrom the photo-electric cell, to remain closed until the actuatingelectromagnet is operated,

even though the light is no longer blocked from said cell.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide anelectromagnetically-operated actuating means forcausing a "front-feedtype of record material supporting means to be shifted.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novelactuatingineans for shifting a record material supporting means, saidactuating means deriving no control or power from the op-' eration ofthe machine with which the supporting means is associated.

Another object of the invention is the proviaim of an electromagneticoperating means con-- trolled by a photo-electric control means for-shifting a front-feed" type of record material mpporting means fromclosed-throat position to open-throat position.

. means under conditions which would result in an improper operation oran idle operation of the actuating means.

Another object of the-invention is to provide aphoto-electrically-controlled electromagnetically-operated actuatingmeans for shifting a record material supporting means to open-throatposition, and means to delay the operation or the actuating means if thephoto-electric control would be rendered eflective and tend to cause anoperation of the actuating means before recording on the record materialis finished.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel actuating meansoperated to shift a record material supporting means when a circuit isclosed under control of a photo-electric cell as the status of the lighton the cell is changed, and means to maintain the circuit closed evenafter the status of the light on the photo-electric cell is restored.

Another object of the invention is to provide anelectromagnetically-operated actuating means rendered operable undercontrol of a photo-electric cell for shifting a record material supporting means, and means for preventing an operation of the actuating means,when the supporting means has been shifted, to avoid idle operations ofthe actuating means.

porting means is in closed-throat or printing position.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view through the record material supporting means,showing the rela- With these and incidental objects in view, the

invention includes certain novel features of construction andcombinations of parts, the essential elements of which are set forth inappended claims and a preferred form or embodiment of which ishereinafter described with reference to the drawings which accompany andform a part of this specification.

Oi said drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation, as observed from the right, showing theshifting mechanism for the record material supporting means and therelative positions of the parts 01 such mechanism when the supportingmeans is in closed-throat or printing position.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, as observed from the right, showing theshifting mechanism for the record material supporting means with thevarious parts in the positions which they assume when the, supportingmeans is in open-throat position.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view through the record material supporting means,showing the relative tive positions of the platen, the pressure rollers,and the guide plates when the record material supporting means is inopen-throat position.

Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the means for releasing the sets ofadditional pressure rollers.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the novel control means applied tocontrol the shifting of a record material supporting means associatedwith an accounting machine.

Fig. 7 is a detail view showing the mounting of the lower pressurerollers.

Fig. 8 is a detail view showing means for shifting the lower pressurerollers.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view taken from the rear of the accountingmachine with the cover removed to show the elements of the novel controlmeans and actuating means and their relation to the machine.

Fig.10 is a detail view showing the means for preventing an operation ofthe actuating means at certain times while the accounting machine isoperating.

Fig. 11 is aside elevation taken from the right of the machine withcertain parts omitted to show some of the switches used to control theactuating electromagnet.

Fig. 12 shows diagrammatically the elemenu. or the control means and theactuating means and the circuits for'correlating the elements.

Gunman DISCRIPTION The front-feed type of record material supportingmeans isused where it is desired to insert and remove individual recordsheets into and from the irontoi the machine.

One use of this type of supporting means may be found in a bank where anindividual ledger sheet is provided for each depositor, upon whichledger sheet a record of the daily balancing of his account is printed.Under these circumstances, large numbers of ledger sheets must beinserted into and removed from the machine each day. It is necessary,therefore, that means be provided whereby the ledger sheets may bequickly inserted into the machine, located at the proper printing line,and, after the balancing operation is completed, quickly removed fromthe machine with the least amount of eii'ort on the part of theoperator.

To accomplish this, in the present embodiment, the record materialsupporting means is shiftable from closed-throat or printing position toopenthroat position and vice versa and comprises a platen, pressurerollers, awork table, and guide plates mounted in a frame for shiftingmovement. When the supporting means is in printing position, the platenis adjacent the printing means, and the pressure rollers engage theledger sheet with the platen to retain the ledger sheet against movementduring a printing operation.

After the printing operation or operations have been completed and it isdesired to remove the ledger sheet from the machine, the operator wherethey, together with the platen, the work table, and-the guide plates,form a throat or guide chute to make the removal of the ledger sheetvery easy.

A new ledger sheet may then be inserted into the record materialsupporting means, which can then be shifted manually to printingposition, and the operation can be repeated.

It will be clearjrom the following detailed description that'thlsarrangement requires no setting of control elements or manipulation ofcontrol keys, no power derived from the accounting machine. and noprevious operations of the accounting machine, nor does it require anparticular eflort on the part of the operator to cause the recordmaterial supporting means to be moved to open-throat position.

Various control means are provided to prevent A traveling carriage (Fig.6), formed with two connected side members 89 and 10, which carry thevarious record material supporting means, is laterally 'shiftable on theguide rails 85 and 66. The lateral shifting of the carriage is used tobring various portions of the record material opposite a set of printingelements 1|, from which the operation ofthe actuating electromagnet whenthe supporting means are already in openthroat position or during acertain part of an operation of the accounting machine.

A joumal'sheet and superimposed carbon paper are usually used to make arecord of the transactions recorded on the'ledger sheets, and thisJournal sheet and carbon paper are held on the platen by sets ofadditional pressure rollers, which are not released by the movement ofthe record material supporting means toopen-throat position. Amanually-operable member can be operated to release these pressurerollers when it is desired to remove the journal sheet from the machine.I

In the instant embodiment, which shows the 8 record material supportingmeans mounted in a laterally shlftable traveling carriage associatedwith a well-known form of accounting machine, the source of light andthe photo-electric cell are so located that a beam of light-extendingfrom the light source to the photo-electric cell can be broken by thehand of the operator in reaching for the record material in any of thepositions to which the traveling carriage may be shifted laterally, andthe actuating means can respond to the control in any position of thecarriage. It is obvious that applicant's novel control means andactuating means can be-used with a record material supporting meanswhich has no lateral shifting movement, since the control and actuationare in no way dependentupon any lateral shifting of the supportingmeans. Furthermore, the record material supporting means is shownassociated with an accounting machine, but, since the actuating meansfor shifting the supporting means derives no power from nor'is dependentupon any operation of the machine, the supporting means and theactuating means could equally well be used with any other machine inwhich a front feed of record material is desired.

DETAILED Dnscrur'rron v Accounting machine The invention is shown asbeing used with an accounting machine to control the shifting of thefront-feed type. of record material supporting means. As the type ofaccounting machine shown in Fig. 6 is well known and is illustrated anddisclosed in the United States Patents No..

amounts or other data may be printed.

'The manner in which the lateral shifting of the carriage is broughtabout and the manner of controlling the positioning'of the printingelements is clearly explained in the above-mentioned Christian PatentNo. 2,082,098, to which reference may be had for further details.

Associated with the accounting machine is a plate I2 (Fig. 10), whichhas a shaft 13 journaled therein, which shaft is driven'one revolutioncounter-clockwise each time the accounting machine is operated.

, Front-feed supporting means for record material The record materialsupporting means which enables front-feeding operations to take placecomprises a platen 14 (Figs. 3 and 4), lower pressure rollers 15, alower work table 16, and side guides ll (only one of which is shown).These parts, which are generally similar to those shown in the copendingUnited States application Serial No. 653,838, filed on January 27, 1933,by Raymond A. Christian, can occupy a closed-throat position as shown inFig. 3, where the platen 14 supports the record material in printingposition and the pressure rollers 15 hold the material against movement,and also can be shifted to an open-throat position, as shown in Fig. 4,where the platen I4 is raised and the pressure rollers 15 are disengagedfrom the platen, so that these parts, together'with the lower work table18 and the side guides 11, form a chute or. throat by means of whichrecord material can readily be inserted into or removed from the frontof the machine.

The various elements of the record material supporting means are carriedby a rockable frame composed of side plates 80 and 8| connected togetherby the tie rods 82 and 83 and the cross bar 84. Secured in the carriageside members 69 and ID and extending across the carriage is a rod 9|)(Figs. 1 and 2) upon which are pivoted frame-supporting arms forrockably supporting the frame in the carriage. Frame-supporting arm 9|has its rear end bifurcated to engage a stud 92 in the side plate 80 andits forward end 93 hook-shaped to receive a platen-supporting shaft 94,which is journaled in the side plates 80 and 8|. In a similar manner,another framesupporting arm (not shown) is mounted on the rod 98adjacent the side plate 8| and provides a means for supporting this sideof the frame for rocking movement about the rod 90.

The manner in which the various elements of the record materialsupporting means are mounted in the rockable frame is shown in Figs. 1,2, 3, 4, 6, '7, and 8 and will now be described.

The platen 14 is supported by the shaft 94, rotatably joumaled in theside plates and 8| of the rockable frame. The lower sets of pressurerollers I are rotatably mounted on studs extending between sets ofpressure roller carrying arms 95 loose on shaft 96 rockable in the sideplates 80 and BI.

A set of stop arms 91 (Figs. 7 and 8) are carried by the shaft 96 andare adjustably connected therewith by means of the screws 98 and thearms 99 pinned to the shaft. A rod I00 fastened in the arms 91 extendsthrough slots I III in the pressure roller carrying arms 95 and enablesthe stop arms 91 to control the position of the pressure rollers as wellas their shifting from closed-throat position to open-throat position.

Encompassing the shaft 98 is a series of torsion springs I02 (Fig. 7),one end of each of said springs I02 engaging one ofthe arms 90 and theother end of each spring engaging a hole in an adjustable collar I03retained in position on shaft 86 by a set screw. with the set screwsloosened, the collars I03 are rotated clockwise about shaft 96, asviewed in Fig. 8. and, through the springs I02, urge the pressure rollercarrying arms. 00 clockwise, as viewed in Figs. 3, 4, and 8, until thelower part ofthe slots IIII yieldingly engage the rod I00 with theproper degree of pressure, after which the set screws are tightened toretain the collars I03 in their set positions. As the collars I 03 andthe stop arms 91 are both fastened to shaft 96, the pressure, caused bythe adjustment of the springs I02 will not be affected by the rocking ofthe shaft 96, and the pressure roller carrying arms 95 will move withthe stop arms 91 from closed-throat position as shown in Fig. 3 toopen-:throat position as shown in Fig. 4, and vice versa.

The lower work table is fastened to the cross bar 84 of the rockableframe, which cross bar also supports the side guides as IT, clampedthereon in any lateral position between the side plates 80 and 8| tocontrol the lateral positioning of the record material. The front edgeof the work table It is cut away opposite the pressure rollers I5 toallow the pressure rollers to contact the platen in closed-throatposition, as shown in Fig. 3. when the lower work table I6 is inopen-throat position, its forward edge moves upward to a positionadjacent a line-finder and guide I 04 mounted in brackets I05 and I06secured to the carriage side members 69 and I0 respectively, and servesto guide the record material toward the rear of the machine.

Frame-rocking mechanism The mechanism for rocking the frame in which therecord material supporting means is carried is substantially the same asthat shown and described in the above-mentioned application of RaymondA. Christian, Serial No. 655,838. Only the mechanism located adjacentthe side plate 80 of the frame is shown in Figs. 1, and 8 of thedrawings, because it is believed that this is sufhcient to enable anunderstanding to be had of the invention.

Secured in the carriage side member 69 is a stud I Ill, upon which ispivoted an arm I08. The upper end of arm I08 is bifurcated to receive a.stud III] secured on an arm III fast on a shaft II2 journaled in theside plates 80 and SI of the rockable frame. Also fast to shaft H2 andadjacent the side plate 8| is an arm I23 (Fig. '8), which has a stud I24engageable by the upper bifurcated end of an arm (not shown) similar toarm I08 but pivoted on a stud on the carriage side member I0. Thesearms, which are pivoted on the carriage "side members, have their lowerends connected by a rod Ill (Fig. l). A spring I25 (Figs. 6 and 8),connected to the arm I23 and to the side plate II, tends to move theshaft -ll2inaclockwisedirecflonasviewedinl"igs.l

and 8. The shaft II2 is prevented from moving clockwise at this time by.means of a roller Iii, carried by the arm I, engaging the end of a linkII pivoted on' stud III on the side plate 00. Thelink Illisheldinthepathoftheroller III, as shown in Fig. 1, by a stud III on ablocking member I" loosely pivoted on the shaft II2 but prevented fromturning thereon by the engagement of the end. of the blocking member I"with the stud III in the carriage side member 00.

In the present embodiment, the frame is rocked by an operating meanswhich engages the rod IIIlandrocksthearm Ill clockwiseabout the studIll. The upper bifurcated end of the arm I08 engagingthestud III triestorockthe arm III clockwise.butthisisblockedbythelink I being in thepath of the roller 2. Since the shaft H2 and the arm III are preventedfrom rotating in the side plates, the movement of the bifurcated end ofthe arm III is transmitted to the side plate 80 through the shaft H2 andalso through the link III and the stud IIS, causing the frame. by meansof the framesupporting arm II, to pivot clockwise about the rod 90. Theend III of the blocking arm I" has an inner surface I20, which is formeda an arc with the rod 90 as a center, so that, as the frame rocks aboutthe rod 00, the blocking member III will continue to hold the link I inthe path of the roller' Ill, and this condition will continue until theframe is moved to open-throat position and the notch I2I in the member II1 is opposite the stud 0. when the notch I2I is moved opposite the studII, the blocking member I" is allowed to rotate a slight distanceclockwise about shaft III, and this will allow the link III to move fromthe path of the roller H3 and enable the arm III to operate the arm IIIto rock the shaft II2 clockwise in the side plates of the frame. Therocking of the arm II I with the shaft II2 carries the roller III overthe upper edge of the link II until it rests in the dwell I22. Thiscauses the link Ill to bear on the stud IIS on the blocking member IIIand retain the notch I2I over the stud 0, which locks the frame inopen-throat position.

Also fast on the shaft II2 are slotted arms, one of which is shown atI28 in Fig. 8, for rocking the shaft 96 to shift the pressure rollersI5. The operation of these arms is similar, so only one will bedescribed.

In the lower part of arm I26 is a V-shaped slot I21, in which is aroller I28 carried by the arm I29 pinned to the shaft 96. In Fig. 8, thearm I25 is shown in open-throat position, to which it has been shiftedby the shaft II2 moving clockwise, and the roller I28 has been shiftedfrom the left-hand end of the slot I21, where it was located until theshaft "2 was rocked, to'

the right-hand end of the slot and has caused the arm I29 to rock theshaft 96 counter-clockwise and move the arms 91 and the rod I 00 toshift the pressure rollers I5 away from the platen I4, or closed-throatposition, as shown in Fig. 3, to the open-throat position, as shown inFigs. 4 and 8.

It is thus seen that the frame-rocking mechanism first rocks the frameand moves the platen from printing position to a more accessibleposition andmoves the lower work tray to a position to receive'therecord material when it is inserted from the front of the machine andthereafter shifts the 3 pressure rollers g't'o release "the "recordmaterial so that'it may. be readily 'insertedlntof 7 or removed from thefront of the machine.

frame is rocked to open-throatposition, coac'ts with a collar I3Icarried bythe shaft v 4 to limit its upward movement. "Aflsecond stopmember I32, pivoted on the rod-90 and adjustable verti cally by theeccentric I33, engages the collar "I to arrest the frame inclosed-throat position with .the' platen in proper relation to 'theprinting mechanism. A similar pair of stops, not shown,

are carried by the carriage side member III and the rockable frame.

serve to limit the movement of the other side of Manual means areprovided to rockthe frame and the front-feed supporting means thereonfrom open-throat position; to closed-throat position. This meansis'shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 6 and will now be described. e

Secured on the carriage [side member'GS is a bracket I34, on which ispivoted a restoring lever I35 provided with a finger piece I36 and anextension I 31 (Figs. 1 and 2); 1Pivoted to the extension I3I is-a link"I38 havingaslot I39 adapted to cooperate withfa stud- I 40 secured tothe arm III. When the frame isfrockedvclockwise from closed-throat or,printing position to open-throat position, the studl lfl engages the endof the S101: I39',in"the link its and rocks the lever I35 clockwiseuntil thellever engages a bumper I carried byjthe upper stopmember I30.

To restore the frame and the front-feed record materialjsup'portin'gmeans to closed-throat or printingpos'ition, the fingeri'piece I33 isstruck by the. operator, and. this {rocks the lever I35counterl-clockwise, which, through the'link' I38, the Stud I 40, and thefarm I'I I 1 '0.\3ks the shaft II2 counter-clockwise td causjeQthe armsas I26 to rocktheshaft 33 .to'move'thepressure rollers 15 lnto fen'gagemer'lt wlthithe-ipmt n m and to cause the roller H3 to be removed fromlooking engagement with the link H4. The release of links-Mt all ws theb h. .211 i the blocking member; Ijlflj, tolleave; the jstnd H3 andenables the frame emov toward closedrthroat or printingipos'itid flnThe; inertia pfh-=theframe and the and comprising a plateI48. I i I,

The link I45-is connectedtoaoneiarm I49 of; lever-fastened to a: shaft-I50 rotatableuin a U-; shaped bracket I5I attached to thevertical plateI41. The other arm-I52rotthe'lever'isrbifurcated J to engage'a-pin-I53inthe -end oia core I54; which is operated by the-magnetvili. "A springI55, attached'tothe-arm' I52'anclto thevertical plate I41, urges theshaftl50 clockwise as'viewedin Fig. 11 and operates through the lever S-I 52," the link I45, the*arm-' *i44, and the "shaft I4? 1 tomaintainthe arm I43 inengagement with the rod I09 and to prevent-anoverthrow of the core I53 when the frame'is restored toclosed-th'ro'at Dsition.' I The actuating meansfor the frame rockirlg v mechanism,therefore, comprises an electromag net having associated therewith acore whichis pulled within the magnet when the magnetli's energized. Thecore isc'onne'cted to thea'rm'i43 by a linkage and rocks the arm I43counter-clockfor the frame-rockingmechanismismost clearly 1 showniii-Figs. G and 9 to 12 and-will now be described. In theinstantembodim'ent, a tubular member I3l, carried'by the accountingmachine cabinet 64, has its upper-end bentoverfsothat? it is locatedadjacent the'tra'velingcarriage;- At

the upper end oirthe tubular member IGlis an enlarged section "I56coritainingthe' source 'of radiant, energy, which; in the-instanter'nbodi R ment, comprisesa lamp 'l 51 (Fig. 12) fondir'ect' ing a beamof light a'cros's the frontof'the ma-* chine at a point wherethehane'erthe operatqr 1 parts supported thereon willcausethe frame tocontinue .I to mover to closed-throat position even 1 after. theirestorlngzleye-p I 35 is-retumed to normal positioniandthezstudr-lwshas left. the end of the sloti39z- 'I he Slil oi the ccunting 'rriachineona of "whi h is sho nih m l at 21F181 L s pport aro kbjie star 1 aeel- 1. tene-d to the shaft, extends upwardly, so that ,itI:

can en g t an 1 9 i my ,pqsmon g the, carriage and can pivotthe "rr'ns,a's I08, .c1ockwisetc rock the fram from. losedfthroat 13051 n. t beenrot n sit q ka -.e 1 'n ve he sh f "2. is alsq-has as ned h r'tb Y an arm;I144, connected a 1ink I45 which is I e edibr an c u t ng eet m ne "H sIhe .electromagnet: ii lfieand certain m t 'p the ea orfontr l i e' sjoation, shown. in Figs 9 ,to, flzin'clusive, are carried.-

by a bracket fastened to the cross frames as 63 1 n ms vg t i sj attacheb thette m, m and its secondary a will pass when reaching towardzthecarriageto j remove record 'materialtherefrom. Mounted on the machineinthe pat'h Of :the beam-crushes another tubular member 158containingf'a photo electric cell I59 (Figs. 1 ahd'l2)fwhich'is'i'ncluded m a circuit taken b ableflao tothefgontrol" meanscarried byfthe jhracketI'4'I, fso1that "th .j photo-electric cell canjcohtrol the operation 'of the li I45 y he .cmat ngeecmfiasna. The cableIIiII is. a'lowcapacity cablewhich grounded to stabilize" photo-electriccell. 5

inthe plate circuit arise-1a tube'to be energized to Q,

close a circuit totheactuatihg electrp agjnet 6.. h -W lm wh h llbflntrol cui o ate will'nowbeeirplained. 1 a siarm el t connectedacross, the

I12, Ill, I'll, I", and I'll to provide the required voltages for thevarious elements of the control means. The photo-electricceil I59 and avariable capacitor III are connected in a balanced circuit extendingfrom the point I12 to the point Ill, in which circuit the capacitor I19can be adjusted so that, with the Photo-electric cell conducting, thepotential ofthe point Illl, where the grid Illi's connected in" thecircuit, and the trie cell and the cell is conducting; the grid I willhave a potential less positive than said critical potential, while theplate I82 has a positive potential thereon, and the tube will not beconductive. so that control relay III will not be energiaed. Theblocking of the light from the photoelectric cell III will cause theimpedance of the cell to increase and will cause the potential of thegrid I II to become more positive than said critical potential while theplate I82 is positive, and the tube III will ilre and be conductive. Thecurrent in the plate circuit will cause the relay III to be energizedand operate a switch into complete a circuit to the actuating magnet I48, under proper circumstances which will be explained later herein. Thecircuit. completed by the switch I can be traced from the main supplyline at point "I; through the line Ill; actuating electromagnet I; theswitch III, which is closed whenever the supporting means are in thepoints Ill and I10 of the transformer. The

potential for operating the lamp III is obtained by connecting the lampacross thepoints I" and Ill of the transformer.

The various control elements and the means for insuring that they willbe operated under the proper circumstances are shown in Figs. 9, 10, and11 and will now be described. As shown in Fig. .9, a supporting plate Ifastened to the vertical plate I" carries the transformer III, the tube1", and the variable capacitor Ill.

The base I carries the relay I" and has fastened thereto a plate I"(Fig. 11), to which the armature IQI of the relay is pivoted by means ofa pair of clips as "2. The armature IQI has fixed thereto a retainingmember I" and a switch-operatingmember ItLwhich has adiacent one endthereof a set screw I85 providing an adjustable connection between theswitchoperating member I and a plunger Ill slidable in the switchhousing I91. One element of the switch III presses against the plungerI" to maintain the plunger in engagement with the set screw I. ,A springI connected to the armature "I and to the lower part of the plate I"urges. the armature clockwise about its pivot point.

The armature-retaining member Ill cooperates with a latch III pivoted onstud-2" on a supporting plate 2 and urged clockwise, as viewed in Fig.11, by a spring 202.

The operation of the parts associated with the relay is such that, whenthe relay I68 is operated, the armature ISI is rocked counter-clockwiseabout the clips I92 and causes the switch-operating member I 94 to closethe switch I83 and the retaining member I to be moved downwardly toallow the'latch I99 to rotate counterclockwise and engage the retainingmember I93 to maintain the armature in moved position and the switch I82in closed position, even though the relay Itl is deenergized. The meansfor moving the latch I89 clockwise and releasing the armature IOI willbe described later.

The switch I82, which is included in the circuit for the actuatingelectromagnet H8, is closed as 1 long as the record material supportingmeans is in closed-throat position. As the actuating electromagnet I"moves the supporting means to open-throat position, the switch I isopened and remains opened until the record material supporting means ismoved back to closed-throat position. With this arrangement, therelay-operated switch I" can be locked closed to maintain the operatingcircuit for the actuating electromagnet I to allow time for the magnetto operate, even though the control at the photoelectric cell II! isonly momentary. and the'operating circuit can be broken at the switchI85 after the actuating electromagnet has performed its work. The meansfor controlling the opening and closing of the switch III are asfollows.

The blades of the switch I" normally tend toward open position, but areheld closed by a control member 2I I pivoted on the bracket IBI. Thecontrol member 2 is urged clockwise about its pivot by the tension ofthe switch blades and by a spring 2I2 fastened to the control member 2and a supporting plate 2I3 (Fig. 9) carried by the bracket ISI, but thecontrol member is retained in the switch-closing position, as shown inFig. 11, by a latch 2H pivoted on the supporting plate 2|! and urged bya spring 2I8 into engagement with a projection 2|! on the control member2.

As explained earlier herein, the shaft IIII is rotated clockwise fromthe position shown in Fig. 11 when the record material supporting meansis moved to open-throat position, either manually or by theelectromagnet I46. Fastened to the shaft It! by set screws is atwo-armed lever 2", and, as the shaft in rotates, one arm 2I8 of thelever 2II engages the latch 2H and releases the control member II I,which allows the switch III to open. .The other arm 2" of the lever 2"has a pin 22! therein, which engages a restoring extension 22I on thecontrol member" 2 to rock the control member counter-clockwise, asviewed in Fig. 11, to reclose the switch II! when the shaft I50 irestored to th position shown in Fig. 11 as the record materialsupporting means is moved to closed-throat position.

The two-armed lever 2II is also used to operate a releasing means forthe armature latch I". The releasing means comprise a resilient member222, which is slidable in the support 223 and has one end bent over toform a hook 224 operable to engage a projection on the latch I99 androck the latch I 98 clockwise to release the armature Isl. Near thehooked end of the resilient member is a lateral projection 225, whichcooperates with a curved plate 226, carried by the bracket Iii to guidethe hooked end of the memher 222. The releasing means operates asfollows. As the shaft I50 rotates clockwise when the record materialsupporting means are moved to open-throat position, the pin 228 moves tothe left (Fig. 11) and advances the hook 224 past the latch I99, theprojection225 riding over the curved plate 226 and dropping offbeforethe end of the movement. When the shaft I58 is restored to the positionshown in Fig. 11 by moving the record material supportin means toclosed-throat position, the pin 228 will shift the resilient member 222to the right, and the projection 225 will cooperate with the under sideof the curved plate 226 and insure that the hok 224 will engage theprojection on the latch I 99 and rock the latch clockwise to release thearmature I9I and prepare the control means for another operation undercontrol of the photo-electric cell.

The switch I81 (Figs. 10 and 12) in the operatin circuit for theactuating electromagnet I46 is provided to prevent the operation of themagnet while the printing mechanism of the accounting machine isoperatin to insure that if the beam of light is blocked from thephoto-electric c ll during an operation of the accounting machine. theactuating electromagnet I46 will not be energized to move the recordmaterial supporting means to open-throat position until the completionof the operation of the printing mechanism.

A explained earlier herein, the plate 12 associated with the accountingmachine has a shaft 13 journaled therein. which shaft is driven onerevolution counter-clockwise each time the accounting machine isoperated; Pivoted on the plate 12 is a lever 221 carrying a roller 228,which is urged by a spring "29 into enga ement with a cam. 230 fast tothe shaft 13. The lower end of the lever 221 has a link 23I pivotedthereto and urged clockwise by a torsi n spring 232 to engage atooth-like projection 233 .thereon with a similar projection 234 on a,pivoted member 235.

Whenever the accounting machine is not operating, the parts are in thepositions as shown in Fig. 10. where the projection 233, bearing on theprojection 234, has rocked the pivoted mem her 235 clockwise until thestop 236 on the memher 235 engages a lower limiting finger 231, at whichtime the pivoted member has moved the blade of the switch I83 to closesaid switch. Just as soon as the accounting machine begins to operate,the high point of the cam 23!! moves away from the roller 228 and allowsthe lever 221 to shift the link 23I to the right as viewed in Fig. 10.This will move the projection 233 to the right, and. as the stop 236 isin engagement with the finger 231, the projection 233 will ride over theprojection 234 on the pivoted member 235 and press against theright-hand side of the projection 234, which will shift the pivotedmember 235 counter-clockwise until the stop 236 engages an upperlimiting finger 238 and the switch is opened. The high point of the cam230 is so located relatively to the roller 228 and the projection 233 isso located relatively to the projection 234 that the pivoted member- 235is shifted to open the switch I81 almost simultaneously with theinitiation of the accounting machine operation. been accomplished, thecam 230 will cause the link 2! to move to the left and the projection233 to ride over the projection 234 and bear upon the left-hand side ofthe projection 234 to rock control means can cause the actuatingelectromagnet I46 to shift the record material supportingmeans toopen-throat position during an operation of the accounting machine onlyafter the printing part of the operation has been completed.

Obvious variations can be made in the control circuits without departingfrom the invention.

The type of radiant energy used is described as light, but the inventionis not to be limited to the use of light, as other forms of radiantenergy could .be used together with appropriate means for detecting thebeam. Inasmuch as the critical location of the source of energy and thedetector is such that the beam between them can be broken under propercircumstances, these elements may be used with a record materialsupporting means that has no lateral travel, or. if a traveling carriageis used, these elements may both be carried by the carriage, .or one maybe carried by the carriage and one may be stationary, without departingfrom the purpose of the invention.

Further, the control-means and the actuating means are shown for causingthe movement of the frame and the record material supporting means fromclosed-throat position to openthroat position, but it is clear that sucha control could readilybe utilized-to cause the record materialsupporting means to be 'moved from open-throat position to closed-throatposition.

Additional record material supporting means Y Alsoassociated with theplaten 14 (Figs. 3, 4,

and 5) is a second record material supporting means to guide and hold asecond form of record material which is fed from the rear of the ma-=chine. The record material is fed from the rear of the machine byoperation of the knobs 2 to rotate the platen clockwise, and also by theusual line-spacing mechanism (not shown). The second record materialsupporting means is rock'- able with the record material supportingframe and comprises sets of upper pressure rollers 242 and lowerpressure rollers 243, which cooperate with the platen 14 to hold recordmaterial thereon, and an upper work table 244, which, with the guideplate 245 and the side guides 246 (Fig. 6) and 241, guide the recordmaterial to the platen from the rear of the machine.

A pair of brackets 248 and 248 are fastened to the side plates 88 and8|, respectively, of the rockable frame, and these brackets have pivotedthereon arms 25!! and 25I connected by a rod 252, which carries the setsof upper pressure rollers 242. Springs 253 and 254 are connected to thearms 258 and 25I and to the brackets 248 and 249, respectively, and urgethe pressure rollers 242 into engagement with the platen 14.

Also pivoted on the brackets 248 and 249 are After the printing has arms255 and 256, respectively, which have fasthe side plates and Stand-urgethe pressure rollers 243 into engagement with the platen 14.

The guide plates 2 are carried by the tie rod 83 and the shaft 1 i2 andserve to guide the record material to and from the pressure rollers 242and 2. The side guides 2" and 2" are adlustably suppomd on the upperwork table 2 and control the lateral positioning of the record materialthereon.

This additional record material supporting means is rocked withthe'frame, but does not release the record material when the frame isrocked. A pair of cams 2" and 280 are fastened on a sleeve 28! rotatableon a shaft carried by the side plates Sll and II, which cams cooperatewith rollers 262, 263, 284, and 265 on the arms 2", 25], 255, and 258,respectively, to separate the forward ends of these arms and move thepressure rollers from engagement with the platen. Counter-clockwisemovement of the handle 2 causes the high points on the cams 258 and 280to move opposite the rollers on the arms and move the pressure rollersto release the record material.

This additional record material supporting means, which is not releasedwhen the frame is moved to open-throat position, can be used to hold ajournal sheet and superimposed carbon sheet in place to record data onsaid Journal sheet as the data is recorded on a plurality of the ledgersheets which are inserted from the front of the machine in a pluralityof operations.

Stnnuurr From the above description it is clear that the improvedactuating means and control means simplify the operation of the machine,as compared with the known machines of the prior art, because they arefaster in operation and require no accurate setting of control elementsor any special operation of .the machine to cause the supporting meansto shift to open-throat position.

The actuating means makes the operation of the machine more flexible,because the operator of the machine can very quickly cause the recordmaterial supporting means to move to openthroat position to enable thematerial to be removed before any accounting machine operation takesplacev or after any number of amounts or other data have been recordedin one or more columns on the record material. All that is required isthat the operator reach for the record material and in so doinginterrupt the beam of light to cause the supporting means to shift toopenthroat position.

The actuating means makes the operation of the machine more flexible,because the operator of the machine can very quickly cause the recordmaterial supporting means to move to openthroat position to enable thematerial to be removed before any accounting machine operation takesplace or after any number of amounts or other data have been recorded inone or more columns on the record material. All that is required is thatthe operator reach for the record material and in so doing interrupt thebeam of light to cause the supporting means to be shifted. Since, withany front-feed type of record material supporting means, the operatormust remove and insert record material therein, the use of thisnecessary act without any additional effort on the part of the operatoralso to cause the throat to open will effect a considerable saving intime and, effort if many record sheets are to be handled, as in the caseElven above, in which daily balances are made on individual ledgersheets.

Because the actuating means operates so record material supporting meansis in openthroat position, so that repeated interruptions of the beam oflight by the operator in removing and inserting record material willhave no effect to cause unnecessary operations of the actuating means.

A copending application of George Ramsey, Serial No. 380,158, filedFebruary 24, 1941, shows a photo-electric cell and source of lightlocated adjacent a shiftable record material supporting means for.controlling the operation of the shifting means, as in the instantapplication, and said Ramsay application contains the broad claims tothe photo-electric cell control of the shifting of the supporting means,whereas the claims of the instant application are drawn to a form ofactuating means for shifting the supporting means under photo-electriccell control which is not shown in the Ramsey application.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirablyadapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understoodthat it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form orembodimentherein disclosed,

for it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms all coming Withinthe which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. A front-feed machine of the class described having front-feed meansincluding a platen for receiving and holding a work sheet in front-fedposition relative to said platen, said front-feed means being movablefrom a closed-throat or work sheet holding position to an open-throat orscope of the claims releasing position and vice versa; a photo-electricmeans; an electric lamp arranged so as to produce a light beam in frontof the front-feed means; and a circuit having electromagnetic operatingmeans therein to actuate the front-feed means to move the latter from aclosed to openthroat position, said circuit being normally in-'effective, but rendered effective upon interruption of the light beamwhereby the front-feed means is moved to open-throat position to permitthe removal of one work sheet and the insertion of another.

2. In a machine for making records on record material inserted from thefront of the machine, the combination of record material supportingmeans including elements shiftable from closedthroat position toopen-throat position and vice versa; means to shift said supportingmeans from closed-throat to open-throat position; means including anelectromagnet for actuating said shifting means; an operating circuitfor said electromagnet, said circuit including a plurality of switches;control means for closing one of said switches to complete the circuit;means settable according to the closed-throat or open-throat position ofsaid supporting means; and means controlled by said settable means whenset according to an open-throat position of the supporting means to openanother of said plurality of switches to prevent an operation of the'electromagnet throat position,

when the supporting means is in open-throat position even though thecontrol means closes said one switch.

3.'In a recording machine, the combination of a record materialsupporting means comprising elements shiftable from closed-throatposition to open-throat position and vice versa;,means for shifting saidsupporting means from closed-throat to open-throat position; meansincluding an operating electromagnet for actuating said shiftin means;means mounted adjacent said supporting means and operable to produce anddirect a beam of light across in front of the supporting means; aphoto-electric cell; and a relay controlled by said photo-electric cellfor causing the energization of the electromagnet each time the light isblocked from said photo-electric cell.

4. In a machine for making records on record material inserted from thefront of the machine, the'combination of record material supportingmeans including elements shiftable from closed-- throat position toopen-throat position and vice versa; means to shift said supportingmeans from closed-throat position to open-throat position; meansincluding an electromagnet for actuating said shifting means; anoperating circuit for said electromagnet; means for producing anddirecting a beam of light across the supporting means and in frontthereof; a photo-electric cell upon which the beam of light is directed;means controlled by said photo-electric cell for completing saidoperating circuit when the beam is blocked from said cell; and means forretaining the operating circuit completed until the electromagnet hasoperated, even though the beam is no longer blocked from the cell.

5. In a machine for making records on record I material inserted fromthe front of the machine,

the combination of record material supporting means including elementsshiftable from closedthroat position to open-throat position and viceversa; means to shift said supporting means from closed-throat positionto open-throat position; means including an electromagnet for actuatingsaid shifting means; an operating circuit for said electromagnet; meansfor producing and directing a beam of light across the supporting 1means and in front thereof; a photo-electric cell upon which the beam oflight is directed; means controlled by said photo-electric cell forcompleting said operating circuit when the beam is blocked from saidcell; means for retaining the operating circuit completed until theelectromagnethas operated to move the supporting means to open-throatposition, even though the beam of light is no longer blocked from thecell; and means settable according to the open-throat or closed-throatposition of the supporting means and operable, when set according to theclosedto release said retaining means.

6. In a machine for making records on record material inserted from thefront of the machine, the combination of record material supportingmeans including elements shiftable from closedthroat position toopen-throat position and vice versa;- means to shift said supportingmeans to closed-throat'position; and means operated by said settableineans for releasing the retaining means for said one switch when thesupporting means is shifted to closed-throat position.

7. In a machine for making records on record material inserted fromthe'front of the machine, the combination of record material supportingmeans including elements shiftable from closedthroat position toopen-throat position and vice versa; means to shift said supportingmeans from closed-throat to open-throat position; means including anelectromagnet for actuating said shifting means; an operating circuitfor said electromagnet, said'circuit including a plurality of switches;control means for closing one of said switches to complete the circuit;means to retain said one switch in closed position until after saidelectromagnet has operated; timing means operated during a recordingoperation; and means operated by the timing means to open another one ofsaid plurality of switches to delay the operation of the electromagnetwhile a record is being made on said record material.

8. In a machine for making records on record material inserted from thefront of the machine, the combination of record material supportingmeans including elements shiftable from closedthroat position toopen-throat position and vice versa; means to shift said supportingmeans from closed-throat to open-throat position; actuating means forsaid shifting means, comprising an electromagnet, a member attracted tosaid magnet each time it is energized, and means connecting the memberto the shifting means; a source of electricity; a circuit connectingsaid electromagnet to the source of electricity, said circuit includinga normally closed switch and a normally open switch; means for produc-'electromagnet to be energized and shift the supporting means toopen-throat position; and means operated by the member for opening thenormally closed switch when the electromagnet is energized.

9. In a machine for making records on record material inserted from thefront of the machine, the combination of record material supportingmeans including elements shiftable from closedthroat position toopen-throat position and vice versa; means to shift said supportingmeans from closed-throat to open-throat position; means including anelectromagnet for actuating said shifting means; a circuit forenergizing said electromagnet; control means for closing said circuit tocause said electromagnet to operate the supporting means are returned toclosedthroat position, for reclosing the circuit to said electromagnet,whereby unnecessary operations of the actuating means with thesupporting means in open-throat position are prevented.

10. In a machine for making records on record material inserted from thefront of the machine, the combination of record material supportingmeans including elements shiftable from closedthroat position toopen-throat position and vice versa; .means to shift said supportingmeans from closed-throat to open-throat position; means including anelectromagnet for actuating said shifting means; an operating circuitfor said electromagnet; a switch for closing said circuit; means forproducing and directing a beam of light across in front of saidsupporting means; a photo-electric cell upon which the beam of light isdirected; a relay operated under then the shifting is delayed only untilthe printing is completed.

12. In a recording machine having printing means for making records onrecord material introduced from the front of the machine, thecombination of record material supporting means including elementsshiftable from closed-throat position to open-throat position and viceversa; means to *shift said supporting means from closed-throat toopen-throat position; means, including an operating electromagnet, foractuating said shifting means; an operating circuit for saidelectromagnet, said circuit including a normally open switch and a pairof normally closed switches; means for producing a beam of light; aphoto-electric cell engageable by said beam of light; a relay energizedunder control of said photo-electric cell whenever the beam is blockedfrom said cell; an armature operated by said relay to close saidnormally open switch when said relay is energized; a latch cooperablewith the armature to retain the armature in operated position and thenormally open switch in closed position; means operable to open one ofthe normally closed switches while the printing meansis functioningduring an operation of the recording machine; mechanism operated by theelectromagnet to open said other normally closed control of saidphoto-electric cell each time the beam of light is blocked from saidcell, said relay having an armature movable to close said switch whenthe relay is operated; a latch for retaining the armature in movedposition to hold said switch closed and prevent the photo-electric cellfrom further controlling the actuating means; means for releasing saidlatch; and means operated by the supporting means, when they are movedto closed-throat position, for operating said releasing meansandrestoring the actuating means to the control of the photo-electriccell.

11. In a recording means having printing means for making records onrecord material introduced from the front of the machine, thecombination of record material supporting means including elementsshiftable from closed-throat position to open-throat position and viceversa; means to shift said supporting means from closed-throat positionto open-throat position; means including an operating electromagnet foractuating said shifting means; an operating circuit for saidelectromagnet, said circuit including a normally open switch and anormally closed switch; means for producing a beam of light; aphoto-electric cell engageable by said beam of light; a relay energizedunder control of said photo-electric cell when the beam of light isblocked from said cell; an armature associated with said relay andoperable to close the normally open switch when the relay is energized;means-for retaining the armature in operated position to maintain theswitch in closed position; means operable to open the normally closedswitch while the printing means is functioning during an operation ofthe recording machine; and means for releasing the latchafter theelectromagnet has operated, the control of said switches being socoordinated that a momentary blocking of the light from thephoto-electric cell at any time will cause the electromagnet to operatethe shifting means to shift the supporting means to open-throat positionimmediately, except when the printing means is operating, and

switch when the actuating means operates the shifting means to move thesupporting means to open-throat position; means to restore thesupporting means to closed-throat position and the mechanism andactuating means to unoperated position, said mechanism restoring saidother normally closed switch to closed position;

. and means operated by said mechanism, as it is restored, for releasingsaid latch, the control of the operation of the electromagnet being suchthat the electromagnet can operate the actuating means at any time whenthe record material supporting means is in closed-throat position andthe printing means is not being operated during a recording machineoperation.

13. In a recording machine for making records on record materialinsertedfrom the front of the machine, the combination of record mate-,- rialsupporting means including elements shiftable from closed-throatposition to open-throat position and vice versa; means to shift saidsupporting means from closed-throat to open-throat position; means,including an electromagnet, for actuating said shifting means; means forsupplying potential for operating said electromagnet; a circuitconnecting said eiectromagnet directly with said supply means, saidcircuit containing a normally open switch; means for producing a beam oflight; a photoelectric cell engageable by said beam of light; said meansfor producing the beam of light and said photoelectric cell being solocated in front of the supporting means that the beam will be brokenwhen the operator reaches for the record material; and means controlledby said photo-electric cell for closing the switch whenever the beam isbroken to thereby cause the electromagnet to operate the shifting meansand immediately move the supporting means to open-throat posimeans forshifting said supporting means from closed-throat to open-throatposition; means, including an operating electromagnet, for actuatingsaid shifting means; means providing a source of current for operatingthe electromagnet; a circuit connecting the electromagnet to said meansproviding the source of current and v including a normally open switchand a normally closed switch; means for producing and directing ingmeans; a circuit for controlling the operation of the driving means;means for producing and directing a beam of light across the supportingmeans and in front thereof; a photo-electric cell upon which the beam oflight is directed; means controlled by said photo-electric cell andoperated to complete said circuit when the beam is blocked from saidcell; and means for retaining the last mentioned means in operatedposition a beam of light in front of said supporting 1 until the drivingmeans has operated the moving means; a photo-electric cell upon whichsaid beam is directed; means controlled by said photoelectric cell andoperable to close said normally open switch and cause said electromagnetto actuate said shifting means when the beam of light is blocked fromsaid cell as the operator reaches for the record material; means toretain the normally open switch in closed position until theelectromagnet has operated; delay meansoperated by said recordingmachine to open the normally closed switch during the operation of theprinting means, the control of said switches being such that thenormally open switch can be closed to cause the electromagnet to operateand move the supporting means to open-throat position at any timeregardless of whether or not the recording machine is operating or hasbeen operated, the delaying means only operating to open the normallyclosed switch for that part of a recording machine operation to delaythe shifting of the supporting means until the printing means hasfunctioned if the normally open switch is closed during an operation ofthe recording machine.

means, even though the beam is no longer blocked from the cell. a

16. In a machine for performing operations which may include the makingof records on record material inserted from the front of the machine,the combination of record material supporting means. including elementsmovable from record material retaining condition to record materialreleasing condition and vice versa; moving means to move said elementsfrom record material retaining condition to record material releasingcondition; driving means for actuating the moving means; means operableto initiate an operation of the driving means; means to retain theoperation-initiating means in operated condition until the driving meanshas actuated the moving means; timing means operated by the machine whenthe machine is operating to perform an operation; and means operated bythe timing means, when the timing means is operated by the machine, todelay the initiation of the operation of the driving means; the controlof the driving means being such that the operation of the initiatingmeans will cause 15. In a machine for making records on record 5 thedriving means to actuate the moving means material inserted from thefront of the machine, the combination of record material supportingmeans including elementsmovable from a record material retainingcondition to a record material releasing condition and vice versa; meansto move the movable elements from record material retaining condition torecord material releasing condition; driving means for actuating themovoperating; and then the initiation of the operation of the drivingmeans is delayed until after a predetermined portion of the operation ofthe machine has been completed.

